2015 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview

2015 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview

In 1907, the first ever Los Angeles Auto Show took place at a skate park where only 99 cars were shown. Since then, the show has grown to become one of the premier events on the automotive calendar, for both the industry as well as the thousands of fans that turn up each year to see all the new models and concepts.

Today, the show is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and reflecting its importance the organizers have confirmed there will be at least 30 world debuts taking place this year. The action gets underway Wednesday, November 18, and as usual the Motor Authority team will be bringing you all the latest info and live photos direct from the show floor.

In the meantime, here's our hand-picked list of some of the stars, as well as what we know so far about them. And don't forget to bookmark our dedicated L.A. Auto Show page, as well as follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay on top of it all.

PERFORMANCE CARS

2017 Mercedes-AMG GLS63

2017 Mercedes-AMG GLS63: Mercedes-Benz’s GL-Class full-size SUV has undergone a mid-cycle update and one of the changes included a switch to the new GLS name. Both the GLS and high-performance GLS63 from Mercedes-AMG will be present in L.A. The latter is the one you want as it comes with a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 good for 577 horsepower and 561 pound-feet of torque. While the regular GLS gets a nine-speed automatic, the GLS63 sports an AMG Speedshift seven-speed auto. Drive on both goes to all four wheels as standard.

2016 Audi S8 Plus

2016 Audi S8 Plus: Audi is launching its new Audi Sport performance division in L.A. and to kick off the launch the brand with the four rings is bringing an impressive arsenal of fast cars. One of these is a new A8 range-topper complete with 605 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The car is the S8 Plus, and it will be joined in L.A. by another new model called the RS 7 Performance. This car sports the same 605-hp rating and is a tad quicker to 62 mph thanks to its lighter weight. Also on Audi’s stand will be next-generation versions of the S4 and R8.

2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 - 2015 Geneva Motor Show Live Photos

2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport: Porsche will unveil a new racing version of its Cayman GT4 sports car. As the name suggests, the race car has been developed in line with FIA GT4 specifications and will be ready in time for the start of the 2016 motorsport season. It gets the same 3.8-liter flat-six as the Cayman GT4 road car but drops the six-speed manual transmission in favour of a seven-speed dual-clutch unit. As the car is designed for the track only, it will be offered exclusively through Porsche Motorsport North America here in the United States. Other markets will have to order the vehicle from Porsche Motorsport.

2016 BMW M4 GTS

2016 BMW M4 GTS: BMW’s new M4 GTS has already been shown to the public but it makes its local debut in L.A. In case you’ve forgotten, the car packs a water injection system aimed at boosting power while at the same time curbing fuel consumption. Peak output from the track-focused coupe is an impressive 493 horsepower, which is routed to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and limited-slip differential. Only 700 of these bad boys will be built, 300 of which are destined for the U.S.

Hit the next page to see some of the luxury cars that will be on display at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show, and remember to follow our dedicated hub for all the latest updates.

2017 Cadillac XT5

LUXURY CARS

2017 Cadillac XT5: The XT5 is Cadillac’s replacement for the aging SRX, which means the vehicle will be competing in a segment that’s one of the most hotly-contested at the moment. Small to mid-size SUV sales are booming and the Cadillac XT5 will be facing some tough competition when it arrives in showrooms next year. Fortunately, it has a lot going for it such as lightweight construction, an advanced V-6 and one impressive looking interior. We particularly like the fact that, as with all the latest Cadillacs, the XT5’s interior is assembled with cut-and-sewn wrapped panels, rather than molded surfaces found in many rivals.

2017 Mercedes-AMG SL65

2017 Mercedes-Benz SL: Mercedes-Benz has introduced an update for its SL convertible that sees the car receive some much-needed cosmetic work. Official photos of the car have leaked onto the web and reveal a more streamlined front section with smaller, less odd-looking headlights. As this is only a mid-cycle update, we aren’t expecting major changes in the powertrain lineup. That means the base SL400 should continue with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6. The SL550 should continue with its twin-turbo 4.7-liter V-8 while the Mercedes-AMG performance variants, the SL63 and SL65, should also continue with their respective twin-turbo V-8 and V-12 mills.

2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible

2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible: Land Rover has just launched a convertible version of its Range Rover Evoque. It goes on sale next summer, as a 2017 model, and we think it looks much better than the last convertible SUV: the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet. High-riding convertibles are still somewhat of an oddity in the automotive landscape, yet it’s a segment Land Rover sees potential in. Fortunately, Land Rover isn’t charging a huge premium for the drop-top option. The starting price comes in at $51,470, with shipping, which is only about $4k more than the price of a comparable Evoque three-door.

Teaser for 2017 Buick LaCrosse debuting at 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show

2017 Buick LaCrosse: The LaCrosse isn’t really a luxury vehicle but the new version, which makes its debut in L.A., is expected to come with enough tech features and amenities to make buyers opting for a Lexus or Audi want to take a closer look. Buick’s stunning Avenir concept car hints at what’s to come, at least for the exterior. The internal structure, meanwhile, is a stretched version of General Motors Company’s [NYSE:GM] E2XX platform, which made its debut in the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Buick confirmed that the platform has enabled engineers to make the new LaCrosse stronger yet lighter than the model it replaces.

2016 Audi A8 4.0T Sport

2016 Audi A8 4.0T: If the new S8 Plus shown on page one is just a bit too extreme for you, then perhaps the A8 4.0T Sport will be more your style. It also gets a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 but a more modest output of 450 horsepower. Together with the extra poke from the engine, the A8 4.0T benefits from sportier bumpers, wider rocker panels and the choice of 20- or 21-inch wheels.

Hit the next page for a rundown of some of the other cars appearing at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show, and remember to follow our dedicated hub for all the latest updates.